OPINION
Wolverhampton Wanderers continued their march towards potential FA Cup glory with an assured 1-0 win over Bristol City on Sunday.
Nuno Espirito Santo’s side ensured their would be no cup upset, as attacker Ivan Cavaleiro scored the game’s only goal. It wasn’t a perfect performance from Wolves, but they got the job done.
The Portuguese boss will have seen much to get him excited at Ashton Gate, but there were also question marks that emerged following the contest.
As usual there is much to be gleaned from the game, and This is Futbol has rounded up three things that can be learned from Wolves’ win over Bristol City.
Doherty’s phenomenal season continues
There’s not much more to be said about Wolves’ imperious Irishman. He has enjoyed a wonderful campaign and that merely continued on Sunday with another virtuoso performance.
He is so well suited to this wing back role and that shines through each and every game for Nuno’s side. He has three goals and two assists in the FA Cup now, including the one he claimed for Cavaleiro’s goal at Ashton Gate.
He is just a tremendous footballer, and the new long term contract he signed last week was richly deserved. There are barely any Wolves players more important to the team than Doherty.
Cavaleiro takes big chance
Cavaleiro has had to be patient this season. The form of Raul Jimenez and Diogo Jota up front recently have meant that he hasn’t had many opportunities to stake his claim for further involvement.
However, he was given a chance by his manager on Sunday and boy did he take it. He worked so hard for the team and when he got a glimpse of goal he made sure he took his opportunity with aplomb.
The Portugal international is going to have to continue being patient, but all he can do is make the most of every chance he gets. He did that on Sunday, and if Wolves’ cup run continues to pick up steam then he’ll have plenty more chances to replicate his success.
Gibbs-White and Vinagre out in the cold
There was a point earlier on this season where it seemed that teenagers Morgan Gibbs-White and Ruben Vinagre were on the brink of becoming bona-fide first team players at Wolves.
It seems clear after their cup snubs on Sunday, though, that they are still a long way away from achieving that aim. Both men were on the bench for a game that appeared to be tailor-made for them.
You would have thought that a clash like this would be the perfect time to give the two youngsters a bit more playing time. However, it appears as if they haven’t done enough to convince Nuno of their worth. They remain, very much, out in the cold.